whats love

most of my partners (sbux co-workers) are college students and although we are only a few years apart we are definately in different life stages. i love my partners especially since i've started working nights. the coffee business slows down a little at night and i've been able to get to know my partners more and actually talk with them instead of just asking them to get more ice! interestingly enough i've found myself very protective of my partners. when i start to hear about a new guy i'm always the skeptic and happy with them, but none the less hear myself ask the questions that a parent may ask. and i know that i am a mom now-but i realized that i am this way with my friends as well. i am very protective of their hearts and my usual gut reaction is that this person deserves better.

recently, on a night when all girls were working, everyone was sharing and pitching in on other's situations. for the most part i stay out of these conversations. i mean i definately ask questions, but my issues are not the same as theirs. (ie. how do i know if he likes me?) but one of the girls turned to me and said "we should just ask christe, she is in love! what is it like? how did you know?" i got to give my answer and gloat about my husband and since then i feel like "love" has come up in our conversations at work frequently. i've heard people say they don't believe in love, that they love their current boyfriend, or they thought they loved their ex boyfriend but now realize that it wasn't love.

so what is it really? well, in the fear that i wouldn't do an explanation of love justice i'm going to answer by saying ask me in person. :) but i am really excited for a new series we are going to be doing at our church in the coming weeks. i want a new marriage. this series will answer questions like: (taken from my pastor's blog)

how do you prepare for marriage if you aren’t married?
are there things you can do to make your marriage win if you aren’t married?
what do you do if you are in an unhappy marriage?
what does God say about divorce? is it ever okay?
what about lust, adultery?
what if i get hurt, do i need to forgive the person who hurt me, or can i make their life miserable?

longest process ever.

i applied for insurance for myself and for beniah when i lost my starbucks insurance. i applied with a company that i was formally insured through before i had him. and sadly, i have been on the phone w/the company EVERY DAY THIS WEEK. ridiculous. everyday i talk to them it seems like i will hear whether or not the application will go through in 1-2 business days. well its been almost a week and a half now…but not to worry- they’ve already charged me (“we will bill you during the application process”) even though my insurance will not be in effect until i’m approved and will not retroactively cover anything that happens between now and then. why am i paying them? i have no idea.

community

i got some interesting reactions when i went back to work at starbucks after having beniah. there are multiple reasons that i chose to return. one being with the economy in the shape that its in i was honestly scared and felt like i needed to hang onto whatever job i had. secondly, it is more economical for me (and beniah) to be covered by starbucks insurance wise as opposed to being on dave’s plan. and lastly..i love working at starbucks. now, let me clarify. there are days when i leave and wonder “WHY ON EARTH AM I DOING THIS?” letting people treat me like i am an idiot or not worth their time. i could post all the horrible things that people say and do to us…but i won’t…it will just make me more bitter. but there are our regular customers who truly care about us too-like phil and colleen who always ask about beniah and the new things happening with him. colleen actually started crying when another partner’s baby was visiting the store and she got to meet him. moments like these are wonderful-people caring about people. but the biggest reason is that i love my partners (co-workers). it has been especially great getting into a regular schedule where i work with the same people over and over again. we are getting to know each other more and more and it makes working through those tough times (w/rude customers) worth it. jeremiah, a co-worker of mine, posted about community found at starbucks recently and i was spurred to post on the same subject. so why am i back at starbucks? because i love my partners!